Sub-surface hydrocarbon capture apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A subsurface hydrocarbon capture apparatus and method having a plurality of filtration segments laterally connected, the filtration segments being filtration panel members suspended from floating boom members, the filtration segments joined in a circular or spiral configuration.

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/402,609, filed Sep. 1, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of apparatuses and methods for recovering oil leaks or spills, particularly leaks or spills in large bodies of water, and more particularly to any such apparatuses and methods adapted to contain, capture and recover localized oil plumes or leaks occurring far below the water surface.

As evidenced by the increasing number of oil tanker accidents, pipeline leaks and drilling catastrophes, an example of which recently occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, there is a serious need for means and methods to contain and recover oil or other hydrocarbon products from large bodies of water. To date, most solutions have been directed at floating surface oil or oil that has washed ashore. As seen from the recent Gulf of Mexico catastrophe, leaks located at significant depths occurring from oil well drill pipes or supply lines are extremely difficult to contain and remedy, because the rupture in the pipes may occur thousands of feet beneath the water surface.

One of objects of this invention is to provide apparatuses and methods to control, capture and remove the sub-surface oil resulting from a deep water pipe rupture in an effective manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an apparatus and method providing a means for the containment, capture and removal of oil, hydrocarbons or similar hazardous pollutants that are leaking into a body of water due to the rupture or failure of pipes or similar conduits at significant depths. In general, the apparatus is an assembly of curtain-like filtration panel members suspended from floating booms, wherein the booms and filtration members are interconnected to form a ring or spiral. The length of the filtration members is such that the bottoms of the filtration members extend beneath the oil rupture location. The filtration member is composed of a material that retains hydrocarbons but allows water to pass through. Weight or anchoring members are attached to the bottom of the filtration members, which may comprise an encircling cable. Fastening means or members may be provided along the vertical edges of the filtration members to lateral connection. The apparatus may be configured in a spiral such that the mouth of the spiral may be oriented away from any prominent current or flow such that boats may access the interior of the spiral.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a spiral embodiment of the invention, the apparatus shown as encircling an oil platform in a body of water.

FIG. 2 is a partial illustration showing the bottom of two adjoining filtration panel members and an encircling weight cable member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, the apparatus and method embodiments will now be described in detail with regard for the best mode and the preferred embodiment. The apparatus and method provide a means for the sub-surface capture and removal of oil, hydrocarbons or similar hazardous pollutants that are dispersed into the body of water as the result of an oil leak or pipe rupture occurring at significant depth. In general, the sub-surface hydrocarbon capture apparatus comprises a plurality filtration panel members each connected to a flotation boom or buoy member, the filtration member being composed of a material that retains hydrocarbons but allows water to pass, wherein the boom members and filtration panel members are interconnected in a circular or spiral configuration to surround a localized oil leak or rupture.

As shown in FIG. 1, the invention comprises an assembly of laterally connected filtration segments 10, each filtration segment 10 comprising a filtration panel member 12 suspended from a floating boom member 11. The filtration segments 10 are elongated in configuration and may comprise a single sheet member or multiple sheet members joined vertically. The filtration segments 10 may be hundreds or thousands of feet in length as required. The filtration panel members 12 are composed of a material that captures hydrocarbons through adsorption or absorption while allowing water to pass through the filtration panel member 12. In other terms, the filtration member 12 material of composition is lipophilic and hydrophobic. A suitable material of composition is a material sold under the brand name X-TEX, which is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 6,632,501, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The filtration panel members 12 are preferably provided with fastener means or members 14, such as mechanical connections, grommets to receive cables, etc., disposed along the vertical edges of the filtration panel members 12. The edges of the filtration panel members 12 may also be provided with a reinforcing strip 13, such as a nylon fabric material. The fastener members 14 enable adjacent filtration panel members 12 to be connected. Likewise, the floating boom members 11 are provided with fastener means or members whereby adjacent floating boom members 11 can be connected. Preferably, the bottoms of each of the filtration panel members 12 is provided with a sleeve 16 adapted to receive an encircling weight cable member 15. The cable member 15 prevents the filtration panel members 12 from floating and also serves to connect the filtration panel members 12 along the bottom edge. Additional weighting or anchor members may be connected to the bottoms of the filtration panel members 12, such as through anchoring apertures 17 provided in the bottoms of the filtration panel members 12.

The filtration segments 10 are serially connected to each other to form a circular or spiral configuration, such as shown in FIG. 1 wherein the apparatus encircles an oil platform 97 situation in a deep body of water 99 having a deep water oil leak or rupture. With the filtration segments 10 interconnected, a vertical curtain or column is created such that the oil leaking from the ruptured pipe is contained within the assembly. Any hydrocarbons encountering the filtration panel members 12 are captured by adsorption or absorption. Any hydrocarbons reaching the water surface are retained by the floating boom members 11, which may also be composed of an hydrocarbon absorbing material, and preferably are composed at least partially of a hydrophobic and lipophilic material. With the filtration segments 10 interconnected to form a circular configuration, all hydrocarbons will be readily trapped.

As shown in FIG. 1, the filter segments 10 may be interconnected in a spiral configuration such that an access opening 96 is defined by the non-connected ends. With this configuration, boats are able to access the interior of the assembly by passing through opening 96. Where there is a predominant direction of flow or current, as shown by arrow 98, the opening 96 is oriented in the downflow direction to better entrap the hydrocarbons. Because the filtration panel members 12 are composed of a hydrophobic material, water is able to flow through the filtration panel members 12, thus insuring that the assembly will remain in the proper position relative to the oil leak or rupture.

When a first assembly becomes saturated with hydrocarbons, a second assembly may be installed encircling the first assembly. Once the second assembly is in place, the first assembly with its entrapped hydrocarbons may be removed for disposal or processing to remove the hydrocarbons. Chemical dispersants may be introduced into the interior of the assembly to increase the efficiency of the filtration panel members in entrapping the hydrocarbons.

It is understood and contemplated that substitutions and equivalents for elements described above may be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art, and therefore the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims. The examples and illustrations provided above are exemplary and not meant to be limiting. 

We claim:
 1. A subsurface hydrocarbon capture apparatus comprising: an assembly of laterally connected filtration segments, each said filtration segment comprising a floating boom member and a filtration member suspended from said floating boom member; said filtration member composed of a lipophilic and hydrophobic sheet material such that hydrocarbons coming into contact with said filtration member are captured by said filtration material while water coming into contact with said filtration member passes through said filtration member; whereby said filtration segments are connected into a circular or spiral configuration.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, each said filtration segment further comprising a weight member connected to said filtration panel member.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said weight member comprises a metal cable member connected to the bottom of each of said filtration panel members.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, each of said filtration panel members comprising a sleeve member disposed on the bottoms of said filtration panel members, said sleeve members receiving said metal cable member.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said floating boom members are composed of a lipophilic and hydrophobic material.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, each of said filtration segments further comprising fastener members disposed on said filtration sheet members, said fastener members connecting adjacent filtration panel members.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, each of said filtration segments further comprising reinforcing strips disposed on the vertical edges of said filtration panel members.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising anchor apertures disposed on the bottom of each said filtration panel member.
 9. A method of containing, capturing and removing hydrocarbons leaking into a body of water at a significant depth comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of filtration segments, each said filtration segment comprising a floating boom member and a filtration member suspended from said floating boom member, said filtration member composed of a lipophilic and hydrophobic sheet material such that hydrocarbons coming into contact with said filtration member are captured by said filtration material while water coming into contact with said filtration member passes through said filtration member; laterally connecting said filtration segments together to form a curtain-like assembly; and positioning said assembly at the location of a deep water hydrocarbon leak in a circular or spiral configuration such that said assembly surrounds said deep water hydrocarbon leak and such that said filtration segments extend below said hydrocarbon leak.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising laterally connecting said filtration segments together to form a second curtain-like assembly, wherein said assembly becomes a first assembly; positioning said second assembly around said first assembly; and removing said first assembly. 